Trudge, trudge, trudge. Every day seems to be the same, get up, have breakfast, do your work, have lunch, do your work, do chores, have supper, fulfill commitments, go to bed, get up…
Some days the work we do can seem overwhelming or perhaps dry and dreary. Do you ever wake up in the morning and dread the day ahead of you?
As a busy mum with five children, homeschooling, church, a part time job and a ministry, there are some days that loom before me under a thick black cloud.
One day, as I was trying to work on my attitude, I was running through verses that might help. The first one that came to mind was
Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
That did not seem quite right, however, as I really did not want to think about my family as a trial. Homeschool was a choice, it was what we wanted. Verse four of the passage hit a bit closer to home.
James 1:4
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
That made more sense. Muddling through the mundane of day to day was about far more than just getting a job done. Each of the little things were working together to help me become mature and complete in Christ, not lacking anything!
Some say that perspective is everything and in this case it certainly proved to be true. I am not here to test whether or not I can survive the day. I am here because God wants to see me thrive in my journey toward Him.
Seizing each opportunity to love, give, grow, cherish and celebrate totally changes my outlook. The bigger picture is that God has everything good for me but I am not always ready to appreciate it. By embracing the challenges and responsibilities set before me, learning from them and incorporating them into my walk, I am daily being prepared for what God has next in my life.
The next time black clouds are pelting down rains of discouragement in your life, try this imagery: God is your umbrella. You may still get a bit wet but He has you covered. Wet shoes make you appreciate dry feet.
But I am like an olive tree flourishing (thriving) in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.
